Machine for making cigar-bunches



(No Model.)

J. C. JOHNSTON. MACHINE FOR MAKING CIGAR BUNGHES.

No. 341,807. Patented May 11, 1886.

WITNESSES."

ATTORNEY llNrrEn STATES- PATENT tries.

JAMES C. JOHNSTON, OF GLFNFIELD, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO RICHARD B. DAVIS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING ClGAR- BUNCHES.

EPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Application filed August 13, 1885.

T ctZZ whom it may concern.- Be it known that 1, JAMES C. JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glen-j field, in the county of Allegheny andState of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Cigar- Bunches, of which the followingis aspecification. This invention relates to that, class of mm o chines for making cigars in ,which ajrecessed cylinder is provided with an apron passing over two small rollers for rolling the bunch and binder in a pocket of the apron between the small rollers. As heretofore constructed, the recessed cylinderhas been arranged below the table of the machine, and after the bunch has been formed it is either discharged below the cylinder into a hopper er -enters a recess in the cylinder, to be removed by hand.

The objects of my invention are to improve the construction of such machines; to provide a rotary block, in connection with an apron and rollers, whereby the bunch, after being formed, is automatically ejected upward to 2 5 and upon the upper side of the cigar board,

which is used to support the tobacco prior to its being introduced into the pocket of the apron to be rolled into a bunch; to provide novel means whereby the binder for the bunch 0 is automatically taken from the cigar-board and rolled around the bunch, after the tobacco to. form the latter is introduced into the pocket of the apron, and to provide novel mechanism for rotating the block to effect the bunch-forming operation and for restoring the block to its position of rest to receive a supply of tobacco to form another bunch. The objects of my invention I accomplish in the manner and by the means hereinafter 0 described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front elevation of a cigar-machine constructed in accordance with my invention 5 Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view taken on the line a: x of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a detail perspective view, partly broken away, showing the bunch-forming devices; Fig. 4, a detail broken view showing the rotary block and apron portion to receive the tobacco; Fig. 5, a similar View showing the device in the act Patent No. 341,807, dated May 11, 1886.

Serial No. 174,303. (No modohl of rolling the bunch; Fig. 6, a similar view showing the position of the block when about to effect the ejection of the rolled bunch to and upon the cigar-board; Fig. 7. a detail View showing one form of groovein the curved surface of the block to produce a particular shape of cigar, and Fig. 8 a similar view showing a modified form of groove to produce a differentshaped cigar.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now de scribe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, where the number 1. indicates a table supported by suitable legs or otherwise, and provided-with an upright back piece, 2, and upright end pieces, 3. The table is furnished with acentral opening, 24:, around which is arranged a rectilinear frame composed of wooden front and back pieces and metallic cud pieces, which-support the horizontal cigarboard-A, to constitute a chamber above the table which contains the bunch-forming mechanism, which I will now set forth. In the metallic end pieces of the frame are mounted the journals on the end of the lmneh-forming and apron-moving block 5, which as shown, is semicircular in cross section, the apron 6 having its two ends suitably attached to the flat side of the block, and passing around two separated rollers, 7 and 8, the upper one, 7, of which is located directly beneath and in line with the inner or rear straight edge of the cigar-board 4. A third roller, 10, is arranged in front of the upper roller, 7, to guide the apron, and also act thereupon to preservcthe pocket therein afterthe block has been turned to form a bunch. All of these rollers have the journals mounted in hearings in the metallic end pieces of the frame on the table. The block is cut away at the front side to form a longitudinal shoulder or ledge, 11, and a recess, 12, into which the slack of the apron can enter to form the pocket which receives the tobacco to be rolled into a bunch, and in the opposite side of the block is formed a longitudinal groove, 13, which constitutes the ejector for automatically discharging the formed bunch to and upon the cigar-board.

When the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the tobacco is introduced by the bunch.

the attendant into the pocket of the apron,and a binder is laid upon the cigar-board, so that the edge of such binder projects slightly beyond the rear straight edge of the board. The block being now turned,its curved surface,acting upon the projecting edge of the binder, draws it into the pocket about the bunch,and the block being caused to make about twothirds ofa revolution, (more or less,) the bunch and binder will be rolled into shape in the pocket of the apron between the upper and lower rollers, 7 and 8, such pocket and bunch never leaving the space between such rollers until the bunch is properly formed and ejected, as I will. now explain.

After the block has been turned, as stated, to the limit of its movement in a forward direction, its longitudinal groove 13 is brought beneath and into coincidence with the pocket and bunch, and the pocket enters such groove, as shown in Fig. 6. The block at this moment is suddenly retracted to its normal position, thereby automatically ejecting the rolled bu nch and binder in an upward direction to and upon connected with a cord or chain, 16, which passes over a pulley, 17, mounted on the lower end of a pendent bracket, 18, which is rigidly connected with a bar secured to the backboard,2,of the table 1. The cord or chain connecls with a treadle, 19, so that when the latter is depressed the bar 14 is brought to anapproximately vertical position,and the block is rotated, as hereinbefore explained, to form To the other end ofthe bar 14 is secured a link, 20,connected with a cord or chain, 21, which passes over a pulley, 22, on the bracket 18, and is furnished with a weight, 23, in such manner that when the bar 14 is in its vertical position and the treadle 19 is released the weight, acting through the cord or chain and link, will bring the bar 14 back to its normal position, thereby retracting the block to its position of rest,and automatically ejecting the formed bunch to and upon the cigar-board, as before explained.

After the bunch and binderhave been rolled into proper form, as described, they are to be introduced into a cigar-mold, to be pressed, and to effect this expeditiously as the bunches are ejected upon the cigar-board, I provide an inclined standard, 24, in rear of the bunchforming devices,for supporting a cigar-mold. This standard is attached at its lower end to the table 1 directly behind the back of the frame, and from the upper end of the standard a'vertical brace extends to the back piece, 2,0f the table,where it is secured,for the purpose of bracing and sustaining the standard. A cigar-mold resting upon and supported by the standard in an inclined position is inconvenient position to receive the bunches after their ejectment upon the cigar-board.

The curved surface of the block is continuously grooved longitudinally from the bunchreceiving recess 12 to the bunch ejecting as shown in Fig. 7, or as in Fig. 8, or of any other shape suitable for the end to be attained.

It willbe observed that the bloek'and its journals are located entirely above the table 1, and that the block extends a considerable distance above the level of the cigar-board. This is very important, in that it not only permits the bunches to be rapidly and effectively produced, but also provides for the automatic introduction of the binder from the cigarboard into the pocket of the apron, and also the automatic ejection of the rolled bunch to and uponthe cigar-board when the block is retracted to its normal position for receiving a supply of tobacco to form another bunch.

I would state that the front upper roller, 10, acting upon the apron during the movement of the block, preserves the necessary slack in the apron to create the pocket, and such roller is very important to the practical and satisfactory working of the machine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- I 1. The combination of the cigar-board, the rotary block, the apron, and the guide-rollers, said block having a curved surface extended above the cigar-board and provided with the bunch-receiving recess, and the groove for antomatically ejecting the rolled bunch in an upward direction to and upon the cigar-board, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the cigar-board, the apron, and the rotary block having a bunchreceiving recess, and a groove for receiving the pocket after the completion of the bunch, to automatically eject the bunch in an upward direction to and upon the cigar-board, substantiall y as described.

3. The combination of the cigar-board, the rotary block, the apron, the upper and lower guide-rollers around which the apron passes,

and the upper front roller acting on the apron, said block extending above the level of the cigar-board and provided with a buneh-receiving recess, and a groove for automatically ejecting the rolled bunch in an upward direction to and upon the cigar-board, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the apertured table, the frame mounted on the table, the rotary block j ournaled in said frame, the cigar-board, the apron, and the guide-rollers, said block having its curved surface extending above the cigar-board and provided with a bunch-receiving recess, and a groove for automatically ejecting the rolled bunch in an upward direction to and upon the cigar-board, substantially as described.

III)

5. The combination of the cigar-board, the guiderollers, the apron, and the rotary block having a bunch-receiving recess, and a groove for automatically ejecting the finished bunch in an upward direction to and upon the cigarboard, with a bar secured to one of the journals of the block, a treadle connected with one end of said bar, and a weight connected with the other end of said bar, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the table, the cigarboard, the guide-rollers, the apron, and the rotary block having a bunch-receiving recess, and a groove for automatically ejecting the finished bunch in an upward direction to and upon the cigar-board, with a bar secured to one of the journals of the block, a pendent bracket having pulleys, a cord or chain con nected with one end of said bar and with a treadle, and a cord or chain connected with the other end of said bar and with a weight, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the cigar-board, the

apron, the guide-rollers, and the rotary block" JAMES C. JOHNSTON.

Witnesses:

JAMES L. NORRIS, J. A. RUTHERFORD. 

